How much will Coronavirus (COVID-19) impact Aston Villa's season?

[Ad@m]

I stayed to the end and just couldn’t believe what I was witnessing. Quite amazing.

I didn't. I sodded off after 72 minutes.

No need to thank me!

You weren't alone. I was in the Lower Holte and there weren't many left around me. Felt like a full house when the third went in, though!

I bet.  Sounded great on the radio in the car.

*Grrrrrr*

[Dave P]

I went with my then 6 year old daughter. We were 3-0 down. It was late, it was dark, it was cold. I was thinking of her and said do you want to go? She said no we might score, so we stayed. My god what a decision to stay.

[Steve67]

Following the German games and playing behind closed doors, Schalke Head Coach, David Wagner's comments about missing the energy of the fans is a good point, particularly for our fans, under the lights at VP.  I just hope that the players have the energy on the pitch for what will be a sprint and not a marathon of ten games.  The 'not celebrating together' is a complete load of bollocks though because the points gained or lost for any of the bottom six will be precious.

[themossman]

Bruce’s points about fitness are interesting. I think a massive factor if we do play out these games will be how fit players have kept themselves in lockdown, which I guess is a product of their attitude. This is where I think we are strong, with a young squad with mostly pretty good attitudes.

[eamonn]

Yeah, I did wonder about his comments too. Surely all the players have been given a home training regime, most of them have home gyms or could easily install them. Not the same as match fitness but it's not like they've spent weeks  'aving it large in Ayia Nappa.

[VinnieChase84]

IF the season does re start it will see many freak results. Tons of players won’t be fit and sides that do have minimal to play for could spring some weird results. Hopefully for us it means Newcastle, Palace, Everton, Arsenal and maybe even wolves gives us more opportunity.

I’d find it hilarious if a side that thinks it’s safe gets dragged into bottom 3

[Dick Edwards]

IF the season does re start it will see many freak results. Tons of players won’t be fit and sides that do have minimal to play for could spring some weird results. Hopefully for us it means Newcastle, Palace, Everton, Arsenal and maybe even wolves gives us more opportunity.

I’d find it hilarious if a side that thinks it’s safe gets dragged into bottom 3

I think this is a distinct possibility. We're far from doomed if there is a restart. Regardless of who finishes in the bottom three I think it will be unfair to the relegated teams, even more so if they promote from the Championship without them finishing their season.

[olaftab]

Following the German games and playing behind closed doors, Schalke Head Coach, David Wagner's comments about missing the energy of the fans is a good point, particularly for our fans, under the lights at VP.  I just hope that the players have the energy on the pitch for what will be a sprint and not a marathon of ten games.  The 'not celebrating together' is a complete load of bollocks though because the points gained or lost for any of the bottom six will be precious.

Watching his team yesterday Mr Wagner should be more worried about the lack of energy in his team.

[themossman]

It’s true. The difference between the state of teams who still have something to play for and the ones somewhere in the middle will be massive I reckon.

Not sure it necessarily helps us, as all the teams at the bottom should have kept themselves sharper. West Ham strike me as the team that will be hurt by this as their little run of better performance now counts for nothing and they have an old squad with more than their share of players who I can imagine not training much without someone shouting at them.

[paul_e]

You can't replicate match sharpness in a gym and by the sounds of it the training clubs are allowed to do won't help massively with that either.


Lacking in that causes 2 main problems, the first is slightly slower reaction speeds and the main consequence is late tackles, I suspect there'll be lots of yellow cards for that. It will be interesting to see how referees handle this because the whole atmosphere, with the empty stadiums, will be very different.


The 2nd is around lateral movement in the knees and ankles, this is the bigger problem and is where we could see injuries, this is the real value of pre-season where you're only playing at 80-90% and can ease into the sharper turns and steps that will come in the league games. This one is why so many players have setbacks after long injuries because they're trying to play or even train on the same level as everyone else and the resilience in the joints just isn't there.

[john e]

a plus point is John McGinn will be back, not match fit but then no one will be

another plus point is Mike Bassett England Manager is on tonight 10.30 ITV

[Mister E]

You can't replicate match sharpness in a gym and by the sounds of it the training clubs are allowed to do won't help massively with that either.


Lacking in that causes 2 main problems, the first is slightly slower reaction speeds and the main consequence is late tackles, I suspect there'll be lots of yellow cards for that. It will be interesting to see how referees handle this because the whole atmosphere, with the empty stadiums, will be very different.


The 2nd is around lateral movement in the knees and ankles, this is the bigger problem and is where we could see injuries, this is the real value of pre-season where you're only playing at 80-90% and can ease into the sharper turns and steps that will come in the league games. This one is why so many players have setbacks after long injuries because they're trying to play or even train on the same level as everyone else and the resilience in the joints just isn't there.

Injuries is my concern - not just for the Villa - exacerbated bythe crazy advice about turning away from a tackle. Player wellbeing potentially being sacrificed for the sake of a league resumption.

[ChicagoLion]

I am sure some one has analyzed how difficult the run in is based on the opposition.
I think every game our opponents have something to play for,

[Steve67]

I am sure some one has analyzed how difficult the run in is based on the opposition.
I think every game our opponents have something to play for,

And we still have the same players and the same manager. 

[David_Nab]

I am sure some one has analyzed how difficult the run in is based on the opposition.
I think every game our opponents have something to play for,

Palace / Newcastle pretty safe not much to play for
Liverpool won league , already lost unbeaten record so zero to play for